directness

noun

də-ˈrek(t)-nəs How to pronounce directness (audio)
Definition of directnessnext
as in honesty
the free expression of one's true feelings and opinions his directness is much appreciated by his patients

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of directness That directness, JayQuan says, is hip-hop’s biggest gift to the world. — Abraham Swee, USA Today, 29 June 2026 But where her labelmates routinely drape their songs in warm, dense fuzz, Babuka Black opts for clarity and directness. — Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026 His filmmaking has a lovely, homespun directness. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 June 2026 Marjane laughed easily; her warmth and directness dissolved my anxiety. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for directness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directness
  1. honesty
  2. sincerity
  3. frankness
  4. bluntness
  5. forthrightness
  6. straightforwardness
  7. candor
Noun
  • The host then praises the coach's honesty and the panel's grace.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Both help make the case that unfamous people, in all their honesty and complexity, are as worthy of our attention as celebrities.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of honesty
Noun
  • Toeing the line between sincerity and tongue-in-cheek humor, Edelman claims to have developed an obsession with contemporary Christian music after Smith invited him to a concert.
    — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • His sincerity, the fearlessness of trying—very hard and very publicly—is success in itself.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of sincerity
Noun
  • The show also depicts its hardships with disarming frankness, even verging on despondency.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Her love for the city is palpable, imbued with her frankness, her fun, her queerness, and her history.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Definition of frankness
Noun
  • The Venezuela native never shied away from bluntness — and profanity — in assessing players, plays, games or whatever.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Their snobbery is juxtaposed with Carney’s friend and colleague Pepper’s unsettling bluntness and eyeball to eyeball stare.
    — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of bluntness
Noun
  • Alvarado has had to address that in the wake of the film’s release, and perhaps that forthrightness has aided the box office.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 22 July 2026
  • Your forthrightness will set the tone for future dates.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 6 June 2026
Definition of forthrightness
Noun
  • But the Windows handheld software experience on the Claw is just awful compared to the straightforwardness of SteamOS on the Steam Deck.
    — Jay Peters, The Verge, 23 June 2026
  • On Monday morning, Starmer, whose resignation has appeared inevitable for some time, delivered the news with his customary straightforwardness.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of straightforwardness
Noun
  • For this reason, many are praising OpenAI for its transparency and candor around the event.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Policymakers must gain the support of the American people and Congress through candor and consultation.
    — KORI SCHAKE, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of candor

Browse Nearby Words

direct mails
directness
director
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Directness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directness. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on directness

Nglish: Translation of directness for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All